I usually sew costumes, not clothing intended for long wear. But the one time Facebook direct marketed an ad in my feed that was spot on was an ad for Fabrics-Store. I love working with linen, and it’s stupid hot here in Houston so linen is an ideal fabric for this climate. So I created an account and downloaded the Luciana Dolman Sleeve Faux-Wrap Dress PDF Pattern and got to work on a dress for a weekend trip to Galveston. Here’s a brief review…
The website is pretty easy to navigate and search through designs, and downloading patterns (for free) must be done under a log in. The patterns can be printed at home on 8.5×11 paper and spliced together, and the sizing (for this dress at least) is pretty solid. I wanted a midi length dress with pockets, and this one was just what I was wanting to wear on the coast: Luciana Dress pattern on Fabrics-Store.
The most time consuming part of the construction was the bodice, but it was still very simple. I even learned a couple new technicues just by following the directions. I didn’t make any changes to the pattern pieces or construction. Well, I omitted the belt loops because linen isn’t shifty, and I’m kinda lazy.
Pushing elastic through the waist channel was maddening and stubborn, and that’s on me probably, so next time I make something similar, I’ll widen the channel a little bit for more wiggle room. I also added a snap closure in the chest to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. I adore the pockets, they’re perfect for a small wallet, an iPhone, or just my hands. The dress is just darling!
I wore the dress on a hot summer day in Galveston and was very comfortable. Overall, I’m very pleased with the pattern and really looking forward to making more. Maybe another dress, maybe a jumpsuit. So many cute options!
